Prison guard charged with accepting bribes

A state corrections officer has been accused of accepting more than $1,000 from relatives of an inmate to smuggle cigarettes and liquor inside a state prison and turn them over to the inmate.

The Passaic County Prosecutor's Office last month charged Senior Officer Andrea L. Grice, 36, of Ewing with official misconduct and bribery, alleging he took part in the bribery scheme uncovered after a month-long investigation by the Department of Corrections, according to a news release.

She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted on the most serious charge.

Grice, a nine-year veteran making $64,700 a year, worked at the Central Reception and Assignment Facility in Trenton, where newly admitted inmates are taken so officials can determine where they should serve their sentence.

She could not be reached for comment today.

Grice was arrested on May 20 by members of the prosecutor's governmental corruption unit and prison system's special investigations division. "The investigation is ongoing and more arrests are imminent," Senior Assistant Prosecutor Paul Di Lella said in the release.